Universal joint



Nov. 8, 1927.

E. P. scHULTz 1648624 UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Jan. 9, 1926 WITNESSES Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNITED l"STATES PATENT@Late-Ce EDWARD r. scnnnfraor BROOKLYN', New Vironia.' Y'

UNIvEnsAnl-rom'r- Application .mea -Janary 9, '192e.- serial. naiziazw.v i

cially adapted-for use in connection with electric light xtures. Y

Anotherobject concerns the provision of a. joint which-,is made of a minimum number of simple, strong, durable parts and can be quickly assembled .and disassembled. v

loosenediquickly to adjust the Arelative positions of-the parts and in which the electric wires contained therein are entirely hidden from View -yet, nevertheless, can be readily gotten atfwhen desired without entirely dismantling the device.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the device taken at right angles to Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the clamping or friction sleeve.

The form of the invention shown in the drawings is a preferred form, although 1t 1s understood that modifications in the construction and arrangement of the'parts and in the character of the materials used may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention, in its general aspect, comprises a pair of yoke members having spaced apertured arms. A connecting member extended between the yoke members has apertured end portions which are adapted to be alined between the arms of the yoke members. A friction sleeve is fastened to the end portions of the connecting members and lies within the alined apertures in the connecting member and the spaced arms of the yoke members. The walls of the friction sleeve are tapered and a plate slidable within the friction sleeve is adjustable therewithin and connected to one of the arms of the yoke members to expand the sleeve against the walls of the apertures, so that the connectlon between the connecting member and each yoke member can be made as tight as desired.

The preferred form of the invention, which is shown in the drawings, comprises two and'll each-.having spaced arms 12 and 13 provided with apertures 14,-andltherethrough. A connecting'member 16 ghasend portions 17 and 18 the aXesvofwhich are. perpendicular to each other, and provided Awith apertures 19 and 20 whicharef adaptedl tol be,y alinedl respectively with the apertures. 14 and 15 as shown. .A

` f splitsleeve 21 is adapted to lie within the, A further-object concerns the provision of 13a simple device which can be tightened or.

alined apertures.. i The walls of this -sleeve are tapered asshownat 22, being thicker at the bottom thjanat .the top when viewed. as v.in Figure. {2.w'l-.his ,sleeve is connected to the end portion iniwhich it lies by a screw 23. The upper end {of thesleevegliesagainst the shoulder24 formedinthe-arm 12 so as to make the inner wall of thesleeveflush with the inner wall of the arm 12 to present a smooth surface. A wire or conductor 25 passes through an aperture 26 in the yoke member 10, through the chamber within the alined apertures, through the gap formed in the split sleeve through apertures 27 in the connecting member 16, then through the gap of the other sleeve into the other chamer formed by the alined apertures and then through a passageway 28 in the other yoke member 11 out through the pipe 29. The flush surface above referred to prevents cutting of the wire should it come in contact with the joint.

A disc 30 is mounted within each sleeve and is adjusted by means of a screw 3l fastened to the yoke members l0 and 11, preferably being mounted on a plate 32 which is detachably removable from the yoke members by pulling the plate down as shown in Figure 2. rl`he slope of the inner walls of the sleeve will cause it to be expanded, whereby it firmly engages the inner walls of the apertures in the arms of the yoke members and apertures in the connecting member. This same action takes place between the connecting member and the other member and can, be very finely predetermined. The other end of the chamber can be closed by a plate 33.

This device is simple, efficient, durable, economical to manufacture and is composed of a minimum number of parts which can be readily repaired or replaced.

What I claim is:

1. A universal joint construction which comprises a pair of'yoke elements having spaced, apertured arms, the axes of which are at right angles to each other, an apertured and an adjustingl'neinber mounted'on one the others, a split friction sleeve disposed Within said apertures haying agap:betvveen.

its ends adapted to permit passage of an electrical conductor through the sleeveszand.

connecting member respectively, and means for expanding the sleeve'agains't the :walls of .=.apentured armsr a conductor passage through the yapertures to .hold the yoke element and the' connecting membertogetheriand -means Jfor'holding said sleeve `from rotation.

2. A' universal joint Aconstruction Whichoomprises apair of yoke elements vhaving spaced 'aperture'd arms', an apertured connecting member dispose'd'between thev arms with its apertures in alinement with those of the spacedarlms7 a s'plit friction sleeve dis#A posed withins'aid alinedape'rtures and ha'vf" ing a -Wa'll tapered increasingly toward" the outer end of-saidfapertiues,fsaid sleeve hav#k ing a gap between its ends ito permit-passage ofy an electrical "cond'uctorfthrough the sleeve, connecting member and yoke members, a slidable disk fitting Within 'the sleeve -;.-A- ,universal joint construction which comprises a yoke member having spaced one of said arms, a connecting member having-an aperture to be aimed.l with the vaper tures o-tliespa'ced arms,a .tapered split fric. tion' sleeve disposed f within 1 the alined aper tures" the'ends' of saidsleeve dening az-gap.- throughivhich a conductor may pass, a plate mountedon One of=said arms7 a'screw mounted1 insaid "platefand projecting-into thel sleeve 'andadiscz-engagedtby'the screw to' be moved' Within'lthe sleeve toeXpa-nd the.

same'against the walls olf the apertures, the

connecting lmember, ,also having a conductor:

passagey in falinementivwith the gap.o-the split-sleeve, and Vmeans vfora-holding'y said` sleeve from rotation. 1,. i

laniman 13. 4s"ciiiiifvrz 

